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There's not much quite like a home game for the Buffalo Sabres when the Maple Leafs are in town and the Sabres players love it.

Even though the Leafs attract thousands of fans from north of the border for their games in Buffalo, the Sabres don't mind.

"When Toronto comes down, they take over the building pretty much," forward Derek Roy told reporters after practice yesterday. "Our fans try to fight back. It's definitely a different atmosphere. It's pretty much like both teams are on the road. It just shows how much the fans in Toronto love the game. They live for it."

The Sabres never fail to get up for the Leafs in Buffalo and tonight should be no different.

"With us struggling a little bit, it will make sure everybody's up for the game," forward Mike Grier said. "It's an exciting time. The arena is jumping. It should give us a little extra push. Sometimes it helps you give a little extra energy when the crowd is into it."

KLEE CLICKING

One of the Leafs' more reliable defencemen has been Ken Klee, who missed the bulk of training camp and the first game of the regular season with a bruised heel.

Klee is tied with rookie forwards Alexander Steen and Kyle Wellwood for the team lead in plus/minus rating with a plus-5.

"I know it's impossible to be a plus for every game, but if I'm a plus most of the time it gives ourselves a chance to win," Klee said. "I know I am going to be out there in key situations, so it's something I take on myself."

Klee has one goal and five assists in 15 games. His average of 21 minutes, six seconds of ice time is third among Leafs behind the pair of Bryan McCabe and Tomas Kaberle.

Klee is finding the players and on-ice officials still are in an adjustment phase as far as rule changes go.

"All the liberties are still weighted on the forwards' side," Klee said. "If a forward hits a defenceman it is a good hit, but if a defenceman hits a forward then it is a holding (penalty) or obstruction."